Spring bumper for vehicles



sept. 25,1923. M6856@ K G. REICHSTETTER, JR.. ET AL SPRING BUMPER FORVEHICLES Filed May 24, 1923 TOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 25, 1923.

GEORGE REICHSTETTER, JR., or NEWARK, AND erro E. REICHARDT, orIRvI'NeJ-ron,

Naw JERSEY.

SPRING BUMPER FOR VEHICLES.

Application led May 24, 1923. Serial No. 641,033.

To all whom t may cmwem: y

Be it known that we, GEORGE RnIoHs'rR'r- Tim, Jr., and OTTO E.REICHARDT, both citizens of the United States, and residents, re-

spcctirely, of Newark and Irvin ton, both in the county of Essex andSta-teo New J ersey,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Bumpers forVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class of de. vices carried at the front orrear or both ends of vehicles, particularly of the self.

propelled type, whereby, in case of a collision, the blow, shock orA jaris cushioned in its transmission with respect to its effect upon thelobject struck andthe vehicle thus provided, thereby minimizing theconsequences which would otherwise occur.

One ofthe objects of this invention is to provide a bumper of anessentially simple nature,'com posed of only two principal partsdisposed in a horizontal plane and having therebetween efiicient.`spring elements, the device being symmetrically proportioned, presentingan attractive appearance unlike the cumbersome appendages commonlyemployed.

A further purpose is to produce a bumper in'which the springs aremaintained at all times under moderate compression, these springs actingas connections between the main elements.

Another aim is in the provision of a bumper that can be manufactured ata moderate cost and is easily applied to any type of vehicle of theclass mentioned.

These and like objects are accomplished by the simple and novelconstruction and arrangement of parts hereafter described andillustrated in the accompanyin drawing forming part thereof, and', inwich A Figure 1 1s a plan view of a bumper made in accordance with theinivention, in its normal or extended position.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same but shown as under compressionduring imiact. I Figure-3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line3-3 of Fig. 1.

In making attachment yto the vehicle a pair of supports 10 are irmlysecured to the chassis or frame, the same extending at opposite sides topoints slightly in advance of the wheels'or other parts of the vehicle,

55 these supports being turned oppositely outward to form brackets 11disposed in the same level horizontal plane..A

The inner bar 12 of the bumper is merely a straight piece of flatrectangular material of suitable thickness and widtth, and of suchlength that the ends extend outwardly to a distance equivalent to anyprojections at the sides of the vehicle body, the bar being secured tothebcnt ends 11 of the support by any preferred means, as the rivets 13.

A pair of springs composed of semi-elliptic or bowed members 14C and 15,connected at their extremities by pins 16 which the spring endsencircle, are secured to the bar 12 by fastening 17 passing through thespring elements 14.

The outer or contact bar 18 is similarly secured to the spring elements15 bv rivets 19, this bar being spaced parallel and directly in front ofthe bar 12, its ends however being bent to form semi-circular curves 20termlnating in short flat extensions 21 adapted to engage over the endsof the bar 12 in such manner as to lhold the springs in compression atall times.

From the foregoing it will be seen that upon the application ofsui'licient preure to the bar 18 to overcome the springs, that thelatter will recede and the clips or bar extensions 21 will move awayfrom the ends of the bar 12 but act to avoid excessive rebound of thesprings when the pressure i's released. n

It will also be seen that the springs are enclosed except at their upperand lower edges and that alight and vetlicient` structure of extremesimplicity and great flexibility has been presented. y

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the referred embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in itsconstruction, without the ex.- er'cise of invention orJ conflicting withthe scpe of the claims hereto appended.

aving thus described our invention.,I

what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vehicle bumper comprislng a pair of bars relatively front and reardisposed 1n spaced relation, said rear bar being attached tothe vehicle,pairs of bowed springs supportingly secured between said bars, and cli sformed on the front bar engaging the en of vsaid rear bar whereby saidsprings are held in compression.

Q messes 2. A vehicle bumper comprising a plain straight horizontal berrigidly seeured to the frame of the Vehicle to extend beyond the sidesthereof, e second bar having semicircularly 'curved ends disposed overthe ends of the first bar, and pairs of semi-e1- liptic springs disposedbetween said bars, said springs being secured midway in their lengths tothe respective bars.

3. A vehicle bumper comprising a, plain straight horizontal bar rigidlysecured to the frame of the vehicle to extend beyond the sides thereof,pairs of springs composed of semi-elliptic members joined at their endsone member of each pair being lined to the outer face of said bar, a`second bar fixed to the other members of seid springs and sup- -pressionand limited in their rebound.

4f. A bumper comprising a. pair of bars respectively inner and outer,contractible means disposed between said bars, and means on the ends ofone of said bars to liinit the distance between said bars.

This specification signed and witnessed this 5th day of May, 1923.

GEORGE REICHSTETTER, JR. OTTO E. RElC/HARDT.

Witnesses: A

FREDK. C. FISCHER, WM. F. ROGGE.

